Runners Watch with maps and music player?

dllive

Hi

Ive had a TomTom GPS watch for years. Its been such a good watch! However TomTom seems to have stopped making them!!

Does anyone know of a runner's watch with mapping and ability to play music? Im not fussed about heart rate monitor etc... For me, the important thing is maps, music and basic stats. Anything else is a bonus.

Ive looked at Garmin Forerunner 945, but its more than £400! I was hoping for cheaper as I wont be using the majority of features that are packed into a Garmin.

Thanks

Grumpy_chap

My wife and I are big fans of the Garmin fitness trackers / smartwatches and are both on 2nd or 3rd ones following a less than satisfactory experience with a different brand.

I currently have the Vivoactive 3, which does everything you ask apart from the music.  There was also a slightly more expensive model called the Vivoactive 3 Music which, I assume, would do everything you ask including the music.  I paid around £120 just before COVID lockdowns.

The latest equivalent to my watch is the Vivoactive 4, which is around the £180 mark so a big saving on the Forerunner 945 you mentioned. 
If you like the Forerunner series, there are more cost-effective versions than the 945 model mentioned.  What about the Forerunner 55?
https://www.johnlewis.com/garmin-forerunner-55-gps-running-smartwatch/p5597875
I am not sure whether that has the music features you desire.

Whenever I have upgraded, I have always visited John Lewis to have a look, feel and try as the local store has quite a good range of display models.  We also have a local running shop with some display models, but they give more high-pressure sales and you are made to feel awkward if you walk out empty-handed.  Do you have access to any retailer with models on display?

I did recently think of buying a supplementary device but the one I looked at had what was called "linked GPS" which means it links to the location from your phone rather than proper inbuilt GPS in the watch.  That is not what I want as I don't take the phone for a run.  I just thought I'd mention this so you are aware and can check the specifications when choosing a device.

Also, if you do take a phone with you, I understand most of the devices can control music on the phone from the watch.  If that is what you want, though I suspect you meant you want music without needing the phone.  I am not really interested / knowledgeable on this part / functionality.

Hope you find a good watch to meet your needs and do report back here once you have made a selection with your experience.

Good luck in your running.

dllive

Thanks for your very details reply @Grumpy_chap - very useful.

I run in remote locations (Exmoor) so the mapping functionality I need is an actual map, as well as a 'breadcrumb map'. (I believe this is what its called. In other words, a map that you plan beforehand and load it onto the device). From what Ive seen, none of the Vivoactives support this (I may be wrong), but they certainly do everything else I need.

Watches with maps seem to start at the £400+ point, for example https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/777655 . I was hoping to get a watch cheaper, but perhaps this isnt possible.

Like you, I dont like running with a phone, otherwise I would use an app such as Komoot, which would handle the mapping side of things, and iTunes which would handle the music side of things, and my TomTom which would handle the 'Youve done x miles' side of things.

I think Ill go to the local Running shop and try a few on for size. As it happens I notice they have a sale on Garmin watches!

Grumpy_chap

dllive said:

I run in remote locations (Exmoor) so the mapping functionality I need is an actual map, as well as a 'breadcrumb map'. (I believe this is what its called. In other words, a map that you plan beforehand and load it onto the device). 

Aaah - I did not even know that having a map that you plan and enter into the device to follow was even a thing that was available on any fitness watches.

Mine (or at least the way I use it) simply tracks the run and then afterwards I can see the route that was taken in the app on the phone - I do not see the map on the actual watch ever.  I am not sure whether that is available (within my watch), I've never looked but I suspect not.  As you say, other models may offer that function and, quite likely, somewhat more expensive.

dllive

Cheers. I will go to my local running shop as speak to them in person. Like you, I find them a bit pushy.

Emmia

We have such a watch - the Garmin Fenix 6 (pro editions which we have) and the more recent Fenix 7 - these are multi sport watches, and so as well as running, you can also use them for exercise classes, walking, hiking, swimming etc.

They have maps where you can either put your own route in and it will alert you when you need to turn, or you can use it to navigate with the map shown on the screen much like you would with a printed map, or one on a smartphone.

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/735520
(An image of rhe map view & the details of the feature is fairly low down if you scroll through the page)

If you want a non pushy look, John Lewis often has a (small) display of Garmin watches in the tech area.
 
Something to consider... I have a 6s pro which is the smallest diameter and doesnt have solar (but it has maps) - if I bought another Fenix, I would get one with solar charging, as whilst the battery life is great, it really helps to keep the power topped up when it's being used for outdoor activities (my husband has the solar version).

We also had TomTom watches, and whilst they still work, their reducing battery life, and the need for proprietary straps meant we switched over to Garmin Fenix's about a year ago.

dllive

Thanks @Emmia , I did see the solar versions of watches. Very clever!

Perhaps, even though I wont use 90% of the features - Ill just have to suck it up and pay £400 for a Garmin.

I can console myself in the fact that running is such a cheap hobby, that £400 is a cheap price to pay. Even more so considering the safety aspect of having the maps feature. (Ive found myself in a couple of very dicey situations being lost on the moors! Things can go sideways very quickly when youre exhausted, exposed to the elements, miles from anywhere, and not know exactly how to get back home!)

Emmia

dllive said:

Thanks @Emmia , I did see the solar versions of watches. Very clever!

Perhaps, even though I wont use 90% of the features - Ill just have to suck it up and pay £400 for a Garmin.

I can console myself in the fact that running is such a cheap hobby, that £400 is a cheap price to pay. Even more so considering the safety aspect of having the maps feature. (Ive found myself in a couple of very dicey situations being lost on the moors! Things can go sideways very quickly when youre exhausted, exposed to the elements, miles from anywhere, and not know exactly how to get back home!)

I think if you want to be able go without a phone + maps for navigation + music then your options are pretty limited, and unfortunately this isnt a cheap package.

That said, the Fenix 6 pro we have, is now the old model, so you might be able to find it on sale - Garmin themselves had good deals on Black Friday.

Emmia

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/702902

The Fenix 6 Pro Solar in the largest screen size is on sale on the garmin website for less than £400 (it is a saving of nearly £500 over the list price), the mid size one though is on at a little over £400 ...

dllive

Emmia said:

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/702902

The Fenix 6 Pro Solar in the largest screen size is on sale on the garmin website for less than £400, the mid size one though is on at a little over £400

Oooo - just looking at that now. 

Out of interest, do you and your husband wear your Garmins all the time? I dont wear a watch, but I may be tempted to if I can pay for things at the shop and receive msgs on.

dllive

Looking at this site https://www.idealo.co.uk/compare/200509695/garmin-fnix-6-pro.html Argos has a Fenix 6 Pro for just £298!